Today we would leave Devon and head into Cornwall – the last county in our epic walk. We are joined by Lynn, Ant, Gordon and Liz for our walk to Menheniot (Liskeard). Mike is back as driver/walker now until the very end.
We left Oakhampton, with the promise of a sunny but cool day (and no rain), and headed around the edge of Dartmoor towards Menheniot. Okehampton was founded by the Saxons and the earliest written record of the settlement is from 980 AD as Ocmundtune, meaning settlement by the Ockment, a river which runs through the town. It was recorded as a place for slaves to be freed at cross roads.
Quite a long and steep hill up out of Okehampton and then some good views of Dartmoor as we made our way onto a cycle/foot path on a disused railway line.
We walked into Sourton, home of thatched houses and The Highwayman Inn – originally built as an inn in 1282 and later became dual purpose as an inn and a farm making use of the 20 acres at the rear. In the 17th century it was called the Golden Fleece. Plymouth Breweries later renamed it the New Inn to give it a more contemporary image. The the old Launceston to Tavistock coach is the entrance porchin it’s original colour of maroon/purple.
We rejoined the old railway path (via a detour down a wet grassy path as google maps would have us jump down from the main road) and enjoyed the chat and scenery as we continued southwest.
Lydford was next and we walked down the hill to the bottom of the Lydford Gorge – the deepest river gorge in the South West, with a 30m high waterfall with the whole area now managed by the National Trust. At the top of the hill, climbing up from the gorge, was Brent Tor (330m) which is is surmounted by the Church of St Michael, the parish church of the village of Brentor, which lies below the TorChurch.
Finally another big moment – we crossed the River Tamar in Horsebridge and entered Cornwall. Horsebridge grew up around the bridge over the River Tamar, also known as the Horse Bridge, which was built in 1437. Until the completion of the New Bridge at Gunnislake around 1520 the Horse Bridge was the lowest bridge on the Tamar, and after the New Bridge was built still no road bridge was built downstream of these two until 1961. Horsebridge has one pub, the Royal Inn, so named since King Charles I stopped here during the Civil War.
Onwards and upwards (and upwards again it seemed) through a lovely afternoon until we passed the 800 mile mark at St. Ive and then the last few miles always seems to take for ever – but we eventually arrived in Menheniot – tired and sore but nowhere near as wet and miserable as yesterday! Still, it was another long day, 53km, 982m of climbing and 67,000 steps.
Thanks again to Lynn, Ant, Gordon and Liz for taking time to be with us and providing great company and chat.
Tomorrow is a much needed rest day and then we start the week with only 74 miles to go.